New culprit identified in metabolic syndrome
A new study suggests uric acid may play a role in causing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that increases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The work also demonstrates the importance of the intestine in removing uric acid from the body, opening the door to potential therapies for preventing or treating type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
A new genetic fingerprint lives in your belly
Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human
genes. And a new study suggests that just as human DNA varies from
person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in
the intestine.
Protein critical to gut lining repair
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine
in St. Louis have identified a protein essential to repairing the
intestine’s inner lining.
Probiotic protects intestine from radiation injury
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that taking a probiotic before radiation therapy can protect the intestine from damage — at least in mice. Their study suggests that taking a probiotic also may help cancer patients avoid intestinal injury, a common problem in those receiving radiation therapy for abdominal cancers.
Friendly viruses in the intestine are unique – even among identical twins
A largely unexplored world of viruses make their home in the lower intestine, and new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that each of us harbors a unique collection of these “friendly” viruses. The research is published in the journal Nature.